Found in the locker of a woman who died in a geriatric hospital...

'Crabbit Old Woman'

What do you see nurses when you see me
What are you thinking when you look at me?
A crabbit old woman not very wize
Uncertain of heart with far away eyes
Who dribbles her food and does not reply
When you say in a loud voice 'i do wish you'd try
Who seems not to notice all the things that you do
And is forever losing a stocking or shoe
Who unresisting or not lets you do as you will
With bathing and feeding a long day to fill
Is that what you think is that what you see
Then open your eyes you're not looking at me
I'll tell you who i am as i sit here so still
As i move at your bidding as i eat at your will
I'm a small child of ten with father and mother
Brothers and sisters who love one another
A young girl of 16 with wings on her feet
Dreaming that soon now a lover she'll meet
A bride soon at 20 my heart gives a leap
Remembering the vows that i promised to keep
At 25 now i have young of my own
Who need me to build a secure happy home
A woman of 30 my young now grow fast
Bound to each other with ties that should last
At 40 my young will soon be gone
But my man stays beside me to see i don't mourn
At 50 once more babies once more play round my knee
Again we know children my loved one & me

Dark days are upon me my husband is dead
I look to the future i shudder with dread
For my young are all busy rearing young of their own
And i think of the years & the love i have known
I'm an old woman now & nature is cruel
'Tis her jest to make old age look like a fool
The body it crumbles grace & vigour depart
And now there's a stone where i once had a heart
But inside this old carcase a young girl still dwells
And now & again my battered heart swells
I remember the joys i remember the pain
And i'm loving & living life over again
I think of the years all too few - gone so fast
And accept the stark fact that nothing can last
So open your eyes nurses open & see
Not a crabbit old woman - look closer see me.

My copy of the 'original???' was written in capital letters throughout - apart from that, it is completely verbatim :-) :-) :-)